German Pinscher puppies

About the German Pinscher

The German Pinscher is the older, medium sized ancestor behind both the Miniature Pinscher and the Doberman, kept on German farms as a ratter, watchdog and general purpose worker. This is a square, smooth coated, muscular dog with a strong prey drive and a great deal of nerve for their size. German Pinschers are alert, sharp minded and independent, watchful with strangers, quick to sound off, and they carry a terrier streak that never entirely switches off.

Expect a very high energy dog that needs hard daily exercise plus training or sport to keep their brain occupied, and a secure fence, since the prey drive will send them after small animals. Grooming is a weekly brush. The training load is the real commitment: this breed tests boundaries and needs fair, consistent handling and broad socialisation. Rated three out of five with children and other pets, they suit an experienced adult household better than a home with toddlers.

What to expect at eight weeks

At eight weeks a German Pinscher puppy is sleeping around 18 to 20 hours a day, is not house trained, and cannot hold on for more than an hour or two at a stretch. A medium breed puppy at eight weeks is a manageable armful that will not stay that way. Most of the growth happens between now and six months, so buy for the adult dog where you can. This is a very high energy breed. The mistake owners make is trying to tire them out physically. Training, scentwork and puzzles will do more than distance ever will. Grooming is straightforward, but start handling the coat, feet and ears in week one anyway so it is never a fight later. The socialisation window is open and closing: everything they meet calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of their life.

Health worth knowing about

Conditions this breed is reported to be predisposed to. Predisposed does not mean inevitable, it means ask about it.

• Hip dysplasia, screened by x-ray evaluation of breeding stock
• Von Willebrand's disease, an inherited clotting disorder detectable by DNA test
• Hereditary cataract and other eye disease, screened by an ophthalmologist eye exam
• Heart disease, screened by a cardiac exam on breeding stock
• Delayed reactions after vaccination, which owners should report to their vet

Your German Pinscher puppy's first six months

• Vaccination schedule, dated for your country.
• Worming and parasite schedule.
• Feeding calculator. Set expected adult size to Medium for a German Pinscher.
• Adult size predictor, to check growth against the 11.3 to 20.4 kg adult range.
• Puppy names and the first week checklist.

Kit sizes: crate 36 inch (36 x 24 x 26 in, 91 x 61 x 66 cm) for an adult of up to 20.4 kg; chew toys made for medium breeds. Worked out the same way as the crate size calculator. PetMD bases a crate on the dog's own measurements, not weight or breed alone, so measure once the puppy is home.

Buying guides for this

• Best crate for a puppy: wire, plastic or soft, and how to size one with a divider

Other medium breeds

More on the German Pinscher

Previous: German Longhaired Pointer · Next: German Shepherd Dog

Sources

• akc.org for adult weight and height, life expectancy, energy, grooming, shedding and the temperament ratings, coat type and health notes
• fci.be for country of origin
• Health notes from German Pinscher breed information at https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/german-pinscher/. Discuss any of these with your own vet.

Photo: Stesi, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped. All photographers are listed on the photo credits page.